Jags defense fading against the run

Jacksonville Jaguars' coach Jack del Rio has suggestions for defenders Akin Ayodele and Mike Peterson during the Jaguars 34-21 loss to the San Diego Chargers Sunday Octy. 10, 2004 in San Diego.

AP Photo JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars were maybe more surprised than anyone to see such poor run defense.

The Jaguars gave up 176 yards on the ground in a 34-21 loss at San Diego on Sunday, the most rushing yards against them since Pittsburgh had 219 in December 2002.

"It is shocking when you're out there and you see all the first downs and long runs," defensive end Brandon Green said Monday. "We're definitely not used to seeing that. But the good thing is it's something that can be fixed."

It needs to happen soon. The Jags (3-2) host Priest Holmes and Kansas City on Sunday.

"When you played so bad the week before, this is the kind of game that you want to play," linebacker Mike Peterson said, looking to this week's game. "You want to play a high-powered offense to get your swagger back and let everybody know that you're for real. ... If we go out and play the way we're supposed to play and shut them down, then that's the Jaguar defense that I remember."

The Jags hadn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 17 games before Tennessee's Chris Brown gained 101 yards against them two weeks ago. Edgerrin James and Dominic Rhodes combined for 120 yards on 24 carries last week against Jacksonville.

The Jaguars held Pro Bowl back LaDainian Tomlinson to 56 yards on 19 carries Sunday. But backup Jesse Chatman had 103 yards, including a 41-yard TD run in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory.

"Anytime a team runs on you, it's always going to fall on our shoulders," Peterson said of the linebackers. "Even if we're not making the mistakes, it's always going to fall on our shoulders. We're going to be the guys that take the blame, and we're definitely ticked off about it."

Coach Jack Del Rio watched the tape of the game three times Monday and said the problems were missed gap assignments and poor tackling.

He said that splitting up his tackle tandem of Marcus Stroud and John Henderson did not have a negative effect.

Del Rio moved Stroud to defensive end against the Chargers because of injuries to starters Paul Spicer and Lionel Barnes. Spicer is out for the season with a knee injury, and Barnes was inactive because of a sore shoulder.

Del Rio said he wanted to have more size at end because he expected the Chargers to run outside. But San Diego threw on nine of its first 11 plays and led 14-0 before Jacksonville even made a first down.

"When you start to have a few plays go against you, then it can kind of snowball in the wrong direction," Del Rio said.

After starting the season 3-0 -- winning close games against Buffalo, Denver and Tennessee in the waning seconds -- the Jags have dropped two straight and haven't led in either of them.

They trailed the Colts 17-6 in the fourth before tying the game, and were behind 21-0 against the Chargers until scoring a touchdown just before the half.

The Jags haven't scored any points in the first quarter all season.

"We haven't played with the lead yet," Del Rio said. "We want to start fast. Statistically, it's proven that if you can do that, your probability of success goes way up. We're having to fight from behind or even at best after the first quarter.

"That's an area we will continue to address. In order to be the kind of football team that we want to be and will be here, we're going to have to be better in that phase of things."

Being able to better stop the run would help, too.

"It's good to get it past you now," Green said. "It's so frustrating when you're out there and you're doing everything you can to stop the run and it doesn't happen."